Interchangeable Lenses vs. Photochromic Lenses

Photochromic lenses have been the recent fixation of the ski goggle industry. Many companies are switching from lenses that users manually swap out to auto-adjusting, UV reactive tech, called photochromic lenses. This “one size fits all” approach to goggle lenses is great in theory, but there are actually quite a few pain points to photochromic lenses, along with their hefty price tag. In this article, we’ll break down photochromic ski goggles and compare them to traditional, swappable lens ski goggles to help you decide if the new tech is right for you. 

Photochromic lenses transition depending on UV levels. When UV light hits photochromic lenses, the lens molecules react, causing a change in Vertical Light Transmission (VLT). In simpler terms, photochromic lenses change their shade depending on different environments, making them a highly adaptable and functional lens in changing light conditions. 

Photochromic lenses have many advantages in snow sports for obvious reasons. Weather and conditions can change by the hour in mountainous environments. Using photochromic lenses while skiing can eliminate the need to swap out traditional lenses midday; however, the adaptability of photochromic lenses is also its greatest downside. 

Photochromic lenses tend to be slow to adapt. When zipping through glades and hitting steep mogul runs, sudden shadows and changes in light can make terrain invisible, and when your lenses can’t keep up, visibility becomes even more difficult. 

Flat light conditions are also where photochromic lenses tend to suffer. With flat light being the most common and the most challenging conditions for skiers, photochromic lenses tend to fall short in letting in enough light to improve visibility.

Photochromic lenses have an all-mountain, all-terrain approach to goggle technology; but like any all-terrain snow gear, gaps will appear in technical moments. This, coupled with a hefty price tag, is something to consider when looking to purchase a new set of goggles. While photochromic goggles are not a bad option, they’re certainly not the only option. 

Traditional high contrast, interchangeable lens goggles give the user the ability to control their visibility preference when hitting the slopes. Our PowPow and Key builds both use magnetic lock technology that allows the user to swap out their lenses depending on their environment. 

Read more about PowPow and Key here, and explore our collection of snow goggles here.